E-DRUG: drug prices and health insurance in India (2)
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Dear all,
Little background exists about the MRP in India and price comparison in relation to International reference Price, MSH as mentioned by the moderator.
MRP is the Maximum Retail Price that is printed on each strip of tablet/capsules or bottle and injection in India. This MRP is set by the manufacturer and there is no regulation from government. Retail pharmacies sell the medicines at the MRP mentioned on the container.
The regulatory authority (National Pharmaceutical Pricing Authority) [See http://nppaindia.nic.in/index1eng.html moderator] fixes the price of 74 bulk drugs by a standard formula and for rest of the medicines there is no price regulation in India. It is believed that market forces will keep the prices 'in-check'.
In India we have conducted seven Medicine Price surveys according to WHO-HAI methodology and the prices of medicines were compared to international reference price, MSH prices are available on the net (available online at http://erc.msh.org/).
First study was done in 2003 in Rajasthan and prices of 36 essential medicines were surveyed. It was found that in private sector the median price of the lowest priced generic version of all the medicine surveyed was 1.83 times the MSH. For some medicine (lowest generic version available on the pharmacies) the price was more than four times the MSH price, these medicines were: albendazole (highest; 10.31times MSH), amoxicillin, amitryptyline, atenolol, diazepam, diclofenac, hydrochlorothiazide, and paracetamol.
Six other surveys were simultaneously conducted at six sites in 2004 and similar results were obtained. Synthesis paper for six surveys is published in Indian Journal of Medical Research and is available at:
http://www.icmr.nic.in/ijmr/2007/may/0506.pdf
The procurement price for government was found to be 0.27-0.48 times the MSH reference price. This shows the cost of medicines must be less than this.
A detailed price component study was conducted in February & March 2007 in Delhi in both public and private sector. This study revealed that MRP is set significantly higher than manufacturing cost. Retailers have 300 - 500 % mark ups on generic version of medicines. Trade schemes are also common for retailers and this practice also increases the margins for retailers.
These findings suggest even if manufacturers give their products at half the printed MRP, they will make good profit. Hope the manufacturer will supply all the good quality essential medicines for below poverty line population.
If you have any other query please do ask.
Regards,
Anita Kotwani
Associate professor
Department of Pharmacology
V.P.Chest Institute
University of Delhi
Delhi 110007
India
anitakotwani@msn.com
References
1. http://erc.msh.org/
2. http://www.icmr.nic.in/ijmr/2007/may/0506.pdf
3. http://g.msn.com/8HMBENIN/2731??PS=47575